In just four days, over ₦10 million was raised to support Quadri Alabi, a 17-year-old boy who became popular in 2023 after he boldly stood in front of Peter Obi’s campaign convoy.
The update was shared by human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, during an interview on Channels TV. Effiong appeared on the show with Quadri and explained how the teenager was unfairly treated by the police after his rise to fame.
Quadri was recently released after he was wrongly arrested and charged with being involved in a street fight in Amukoko, Lagos. A magistrate freed him after the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, reviewed the case and gave legal advice.
Effiong claimed that some corrupt police officers and local area boys worked together in a plan to take advantage of Quadri and his family. After Quadri became well-known and received donations from the public, some people in the community started demanding money from him.
“They said he didn’t settle them,” Effiong explained. “They even asked his mother to throw a party with a cow and rice for the area. When she refused, things got worse.”
Effiong said that Quadri was later picked up again by two area boys, Leggy and Baba Waris, who falsely accused him of being in a fight. The police, led by CSP Ismaila Ulaniro, detained Quadri for a week without proper charges and then brought him to court with four adults he had never met. He was even charged with armed robbery.
“There was no evidence and no identification parade,” Effiong said. “The police also changed his age from 17 to 18 so they could treat him like an adult in court.”
Quadri also shared his story during the interview. “The police came to my house. The area boys pointed me out. They had already taken my phone and money. I was the youngest in the cell,” he said.
Despite all he went through, Nigerians came together to help. The crowdfunding campaign raised more than ₦10 million in just four days. Effiong said the money will be used to move Quadri away from the dangerous environment and to support his mother, who is a small-time trader.
“This shows the kindness and unity of ordinary Nigerians,” Effiong said.
